Friday Stream of Consciousness – 145

Featuring Antonin Scalia, Aloe Blacc, and Child-Centered Families

Living in Southern California has turned me into a virtual sommelier of tacos. The Carnitas taco may be the 9th wonder of the world…the eighth being nachos, of course.

President Obama is making an enormous mistake by not attending the funeral of Justice Scalia. Ultimately, this will be the reason He will not get an appointee to the Court.

The reason is all moral high ground has been vacated. No one feels bad for the guy who acts in a personal, partisan fashion and then cries partisanship.

Having said that…it would be right even if there were no appointment at stake. I hope the President reconsiders.

Missed opportunities to show grace to others results in more contentiousness–and reflects poorly on the leader.

People expect leaders to be “big” on occasions like this.

One Scalia quote I’ve applied to exegesis is, “the judge who always likes the results he reaches is a bad judge.” If our honest reading of the Scriptures never leave us flummoxed or wrestling–perhaps we are more utilitarian with the Scriptures than honest.

Is it me or is the phrase, “decommitted,” an oxymoron, or an impossibility? Let’s say they never were committed to Notre Dame. One is either committed or not committed.

Taylor Swift is the biggest music star since Michael Jackson. She absolutely deserved that Grammy for 1989.

Anyone wanna give some money to help poor Kanye out? You cruel people.

If I see one more commercial that says their product “changes everything,” I’m going to hurl. Jesus changes everything. Other than that…you’re selling a really good car or toaster or mobile phone.

They overpromise and under-deliver. Good leaders flip that.

A good quote I heard, but don’t know where: “The longer you’re in the trenches, the easier it is to mistake the edge of your rut for the horizon.”

I’ve gone back to preaching from paper rather than an electronic device.

I once heard a man from Rwanda quoted as saying, “The blood of tribalism runs deeper than the waters of baptism.” He was referring to Christians killing Christians.

It’s not as life or death, but there is a soft idolatry toward family I’ve observed. If anyone in the family is sick or has any other opportunity or event of nearly any kind, the whole family travels together to that event–church be darned.

Child-centeredness is the more common spiritual problem for today’s families than nearly anything else. Of course we should be involved in our childrens’ lives. But, we also have to know where we end and they begin–and whether, in truth, Jesus is in fact Lord of our families.

When people lament high numbers of young people leaving the faith when they hit college—it seems absurd to me to blame Christianity or the church they hardly attended. Why not look at how young people are raised as a more viable explanation?

To me, texts like Matthew 10:37-38 and others in which Jesus addresses the issue need to be preached more than ever. These of course are not anti-family, but pro-family in the most profound sense–they keep Jesus as Lord of the family–which blesses the family more than any sports program ever could.

Right now, someone is thinking, “just because they don’t attend doesn’t mean they don’t love Jesus.” This is logic we would find laughable if applied to any other sphere of life.

I just read that Harper Lee died. That makes me so sad. To Kill a Mockingbird remains my favorite novel and the book that taught me to really love reading.

Pitchers and catchers have reported to Spring Training. Let the people rejoice! Baseball season will be upon us soon!

Song of the week is a great song for those who compete at anything. I know some of you will spend much of the weekend watching kids’ sporting events. Here’s a good one to play for them to get them hyped (and you). Aloe Blacc sings, “Let the Games Begin,” from the new movie, Race, on the story of Jesse Owens.

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Dr. Tim Spivey is Lead Planter of New Vintage Church in San Diego, California. He is the author of numerous articles and one book, "Jesus: The Powerful Servant." A sought after speaker for events, Tim also serves as Adjunct Professor of Religion at Pepperdine University. Tim serves as a church consultant, and his writings are featured on ChurchLeaders.com, Church Executive magazine, Faith Village, Sermon Central, and Giving Rocket.